Expertise

EXPERTISE

Understanding Your Unique Needs

Our client families are affluent, yes, but there are almost as many definitions for affluence as there are varied needs of the families we serve. Whether you are in the process of building your family’s wealth, you want to protect it as it grows, or if you’re preparing your succession plan to leave a legacy, Meristem has a unique suite of services to meet your family's needs. Your family’s needs are at the heart of how and why we do business.

Many families come to us for the following reasons:

To reduce financial complexity allowing for focus on your family and your goals.

To manage a liquidity event that signals your need for deeper advice and service.

To safeguard your family’s wealth for future generations.

To create a common family vision of your legacy.

Regardless of your needs, when you become a client of Meristem, you gain a Family Financial Officer on speed dial - one that truly knows your family.

Areas of Service

Scroll over the services below for more information

Holistic Financial Review

Discovery of objectives and goals

Construct full net worth statement

Liquidity review

Cash Flow modeling

Financial forecasting

Portfolio Management

Analysis of liquidity needs

Develop risk profile and return goals

Strategic asset allocation with tactical themes

Strategy and manager selection

Monitoring and reporting

Estate + Legacy Planning

Discovery of legacy goals

Estate distribution analysis

Life insurance review and analysis

Coordination with advisors for execution and implementation

Tax Planning

Coordinated planning with tax advisors

Annual consolidated tax summaries

On-going review of portfolio tax considerations

Risk Management

Inventory and summarize all real estate and personal property

Review coverage for gaps and opportunities

Carrier review and analysis

Coordination with existing broker or agent

Family Wealth Management

Family governance and family meetings

Education for future generations

Charitable Giving strategy review and coordination

Residential real estate support

Employee benefits review

Let’s Talk

What is a Family Office?

Historically, the term Family Office described a dedicated staff of employees serving a singular affluent family in managing all aspects of their wealth. At Meristem, we aspire to provide a Family Office experience to all of our client families. We believe families benefit greatly from a holistic and thoughtful process of ongoing advice, education and service. In our approach, all clients collectively become the families we serve. The scale we have developed allows us to serve them with over 35 dedicated employees, multiple locations and an expansive service offering.

We think you deserve this level of service and would benefit greatly across the family with Meristem as your Family Financial Officer (FFO). We are confident we can help you consume and value the appropriate level of service for your family. Customizing our approach makes the service personal to you.

What is Meristem’s Investment philosophy?

Broadly, the Meristem Investment Committee believes in building portfolios that provide for adequate diversification to reduce volatility while providing both income and growth characteristics. Our primary goal is to create a customized investment plan for each family’s unique circumstance. We begin with a study of the client balance sheet, liquidity and cash flow needs. A vigorous dialogue around risk and returns shapes the asset allocation decision process. Underlying asset strategies may take the form of active and passive strategies. In the asset class selection process, we apply rigorous due diligence and sensitivity to expenses and taxation. On an on-going basis we provide for tactical rebalancing, manager review, performance and tax reporting.

How do I initiate a dialogue about wealth with my family?

It is never too early to begin discussing money with your children as they will grow up receiving thousands of messages around wealth and money. It is important that you participate in the formation of their financial belief system. It can begin in grade school-aged children who have the capability of understanding the value of a dollar. As your children grow older it will shift to an understanding of creating their own financial independence. As they become adults it should shift to your family’s wealth vision and values. What do you want your family’s financial legacy to be? It is best to not keep this answer from your family, communicate this early and often.

How do I better understand what Meristem can do for me?

We would invite you to start by confidentially sharing your story with us. We realize the best way for you to get to know us and our value is for us to demonstrate the model in your terms.